Based on this week’s learning material surrounding unions, Employees join unions because they are dissatisfied with aspects of their jobs, believe it is the only way to create change, protect themselves from management, and see unionization as a solution. Employers tend to resist unions because union workers tend to receive more in wages and constrain what managers can and cannot do. Historically unions have been a tool for workers to gain better wages and working conditions. For example, The Norris-LaGuardia act (1932) gave employees the right to form and join unions and engage in activities like strikes or picketing and The National Labor Relations Act (1953) built on to the Norris-LaGuardia Act by protecting workers who chose to unionize. In contrast to our learning materials it seems that union members are beginning to decline due to the rise of gig and remote work.
Pros of labor unions for employees: Improved wages and benefits, job security, and workplace protection
Cons of labor unions for employees: Dues and fees, loss of autonomy, and possible strikes
Key takeaways from my research is that unions are vital for protecting workers’ rights when it comes to better pay and working conditions. However joining a union depends on the context of your workplace and what the union’s goals are. I believe I would join a union if I worked at a job where I frequently saw injustices, if wages were inadequate, or if the working conditions were unsafe. I believe that where I live, it is potentially easier to leave a workplace and find another job that better fits my needs rather than unionizing. It sounds nice to support a union to help benefit a lot of people, but it also seems like alot of hard work.
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